Chapter 16
"I wonder what Michelle’s plan is?" Tasha commented to Kevin as they drove around the next afternoon.
He shrugged. "I don’t know. Neither she nor Nick are talking. I guess we’ll just have to wait until the next National Inquirer comes out."
"Ugh! I can’t believe I’m actually looking forward to seeing that God-awful tabloid again." Tasha said, giving herself a shake.
Kev grinned a little. "I won’t tell if you won’t."
"Deal!"
---
"I can’t!" Mel and AJ jumped as Gia slammed her hands down on the piano keys! "I can’t write this!"
"Why not, sis?" AJ asked gently, sitting on the bench next to her. The three of them had been working on a new song but Gia’s mind wasn’t there.
"I can’t lie to myself any more. I can’t write about a world of love and gentleness when I know there is no such place!" she explained brokenly. "I’m not a child anymore; I’ve lost that illusion. I KNOW it isn’t real because I’ve been to hell and back and not found it! But, what else do I have to hold on to now? What’ll keep me alive?" She collapsed, sobbing into AJ’s arms.
He gently stroked her hair, his tears mingling with hers. It was a horrible day when an innocent girl lost her dream of the perfect world.
Melissa just stood at the other end of the piano, watching them, her heart aching for something to say. Just then, in the deathly silence of the room, where Gia’s sobs were the only sound, a soothing tone came forth!
"When love comes close and then pulls away,
And I’m left without a word to say.
But, inside, my heart is slowly breaking;
My perfect world this pain is unmaking.
And, then, your hand wipes away my tears;
You know and understand my fears.
Then it hits me like a ray from the sun!
You are the only one!
The only one who knew me, understood my heart.
The only one who can fix my world that’s been torn apart.
The only one who’ll never part,
Yes, you’re the only one."
It was a song Melissa had written about two years ago, for her mother and also for Tasha. It had never been put to music but the words were inspired by love. Now, in this time of fear and hurt—even though she didn’t know how or why—the song came back to her, its words unexplainably soothing and comforting.
"You stayed by me when things got rough;
Gave me your hand when the way was tough.
You showed me love when the world was cold.
You’re worth your weight in solid gold.
You’ve always given straight from the heart.
I should have known it right from the start!
When everything is said and done,
You are the only one!
The only one who felt my pain
And cried my tears with me.
I know that you’ll always be there
And now I surely see.
You’re the only one!
Yes, you are the only one."
As Gia listened to her friend sing, Mel’s voice often shaking with emotion, she felt strangely safe and warm inside. She glanced up at AJ and saw him smiling; she knew that he understood her pain. He had felt every moment as deeply as she. They were connected to their very souls. And this song said that very thing, the very thing she felt.
He didn’t have to say anything; she could read his eyes. "I know what you’re going through and I’m here" was what they said.
Melissa had long ago finished the song and was retreating to the door, to leave the brother and sister alone. But Gia stopped her.
"Mel, come back!" she said, reaching her hand out to her dear friend.
Melissa turned and walked back to Gia and AJ. "I don’t know why I thought of that song and I’ve never set it to music. The melody just....just came to me." she said shakily.
AJ grinned. "That’s what my mom would call 'divine inspiration'. It was beautiful. Thank you!"
"Maybe there’s hope for this world yet, with people like you guys around." G told her brother and her friend lovingly. "We HAVE to use that on the next album, Mel! Can you remember the melody?" she asked, suddenly feeling a whole turn better. She grabbed Mel’s hand and pulled her down on the piano bench. AJ stood up to make room for the two friends.
Soon the two had a beautiful, harmonious song composed. AJ just smiled as he watched the two girls. Maybe Gia was right; maybe the world wasn’t so hopeless after all.
---
A week later, Mandy came downstairs to find Alex sitting on her couch. "WHAT are you doing back here? I told you to lay low!" she demanded.
"Yeah, I know. But I thought you might wanna see this." Alec replied, tossing the latest issue of the National Inquirer at her. "It might peak your interest."
As she read the front page of the tabloid, Mandy was more than surprised. "Well, what do you know?"
Chapter 17
"Oh, my gosh! Guys, guys, check it out!!" Jane cried, bursting through Kevin’s front door.
The others all ran in from the patio where they’d been having breakfast.
"What? What is it?" Howie asked.
Jane jumped on Michelle, hugging her best friend. "Girl, this was pure genius! Excellent! I didn’t know you had it in you!" she exclaimed.
"What? Would somebody let us in on it already?" Brian questioned.
Jane spread the latest National Inquirer out on the kitchen counter while everyone gathered around; Mich and Nick stood by, grinning at each other.
Jane was right; it was pure genius.
"Read it out loud, I can’t read upside down!" Lance chuckled from the other side of the counter.
Kevin cleared his throat and began.
"'No new information has been leaked out to the public yet, but Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys wants to meet his ex-girlfriend, Amanda Willaford, this weekend. Michelle Taylor, after having a feud with her own group Lavish, reported that Carter wants to get back with Willaford. Why the sudden change of mind? Taylor says that Melissa Gibson, Nick’s current "girlfriend"—and her fellow band-member—refused to join in on the "fun". So we guess there's more to the story than we thought! Well, Amanda Willaford, if you’re reading this, Nick wants a rendezvous with you this weekend!'" he read. All immediately started talking at once, congratulating Mich and trying to figure out what to do next.
"Mel, you're OK with this, right?" asked Nick for the millionth time when everyone had settled down.
"Yes, as long as I know it's only a trap to drop that witch once and for all, along with her blasted cousin, I'm fine." she replied, her dark eyes narrowing.
*****************
"Well, well, well...he finally caved," said Mandy out loud. "This was too easy, there's got to be a catch somewhere." she thought.
"So what are you going to wear?" called her mother from the kitchen.
"Something that will surely knock his socks off. Enough to make sure, that if this were all just a scam, it would turn for the better. And what better way to have it than my way?"
****************
"Good. Those scavengers bought it. Time to put the main part of the plan into action. Nick? Brace yourself..." Michelle told her friend. "This is gonna take an Oscar-winning performance on your part."
---
"Can that skirt get any shorter?" asked Alec, surfing channels. Most of them held news on the little meet tonight.
"Do you want your cash or not?" she fired.
"OK, OK. Sorry."
"Wait, back up. Did you just apologize to me?" she questioned, shocked.
"What?"
"Did you just apologize to me?" she repeated.
"Are you insane?! Of course I didn't! I wouldn't say sorry to you for anything! All right, maybe some cash" he reasoned.
She nodded sarcastically.
Her once-again blond head of hair was down in curls. Her shirt was a basic white, cropped, and very tight! Her skirt was hiked all the way up and was clinging to her body. She threw on some heels, re-applied her makeup, and headed out to the beach with her mother and cousin shouting disgruntled good lucks.
---
Nick was already at the beach, wearing a pair of khakis, rolled up partially, and a wife-beater. Nothing else. His blond hair was longer now and was getting in his eyes again. He anticipated the little "get-together" and hoped that all went as planned.
Lance—hidden in the sand dunes—held the camera ready, his finger on the "RECORD" button for when she finally started spilling the story. It all depended on Nick. Well, if Lance didn't catch the scene in action, then the plan went down the drain. But he was an expert at filming, so he had volunteered.
Nick was staring up at the star-filled sky, which was clouding over, when a shadow loomed over him.
Chapter 18
Nick turned to find Mandy standing on the boardwalk above him, and she was dressed to kill! Her shirt was tight and cropped with a plunging neckline, revealing ample cleavage and a tight tummy, her legs went on forever underneath her shorter-than-short skirt, and a sultry smile graced her face. Though, his body’s natural reaction was "WOW!", inside Nick recoiled at the sight of her but he tried desperately not to let it show on his face.
"Remember, Oscar-winning performance." he thought and steeled himself for the task at hand as Mandy came down the steps to the sand. She kicked off her heels before sauntering over him.
"I heard you wanted to see me," she murmured lowly.
Nick gave her a smile. "You heard right."
"Then I suppose you’ve finally decided to give up that little goody-two shoes freak Melissa, huh?" she asked as she circled him, tracing his broad shoulder-line with her slender fingers.
"We’re over and done-with."
"Oh, are you now?" Mandy stopped in front of him and looked up at the 6’2 blonde. "What made you change your mind? You seemed so stuck on her....and so dead-set against little old me."
"She was boring me. I needed a little more fire, a little more excitement." he replied deeply, gazing down at her. "I didn’t realize that until she practically broke down the other day." He rolled his eyes as if disgusted.
A look of pleasure and satisfaction burned in Mandy’s eyes for a moment but disappeared as she quickly banked it. "Really? Melissa broke down? Ohhhhhhhhh, poor little dear." Her voice dripped with sarcasm and hatred.
"I can’t handle a delicate little flower like that. I need someone more daring, who puts a spice into my life, who gives me a challenge." Nick stepped closer to her, his voice lowering, and reached a hand out to her waist.
Mandy’s eyes shone with pure power and delight. "Took you long enough!" she said and pulled him down into a deep kiss.
"OK, this is getting a little real." Lance commented to JC, who sat next to him behind the dune. To anyone who didn’t know better, it would have seemed that Nick wanted her more than anything else in the world.
"Shut up and let the man do his job, Scoop! Just be ready with that camera." JC chided with a hiss.
"OK. OK, Shoty." Lance replied quietly and watched in silence.
It was a fierce battle for Nick to keep from pulling away from Mandy as her mouth searched his. Inwardly, he cringed to his very spirit but, outwardly, it was perfect.
"Mmmmmm. You still kiss like a god." Mandy commented when they pulled apart. She pressed her body close to him as her eyes burned into his; she wanted more than just his money. He was one fine man—she wanted him, body and soul! "You know, baby, I would never admit this to anyone, but that little tramp friend of Melissa’s—what was her name?--oh, yeah! Gia. She never would have let me near you. She’s got spunk for one so young. I was almost scared she would beat me up. I’m a lover not a fighter, you know." she purred.
"I know, gorgeous. Gia could be a real pest at times. I only defended her for precious little Mel’s sake. The brat’s her friend, after all." Nick ran his hand down her back, struggling to keep in character.
"True. Well, I made sure she was taken care of good."
"Oh, really, baby? Well, tell me. Tell me what you did for me." Nick smiled devilishly and sat down on the sand, pulling her down with him. "I wanna hear."
Now, Mandy was smart but Nick was so convincing and had gotten her so heated up and she was on such a power trip from the seeming "success" of her plan, that she didn’t think before she started rambling.
"Hit it, Scoop!" JC told his friend and Lance started rolling, catching every fateful word that fell from Mandy’s tongue.
When she was all done spilling her proverbial guts, Mandy smiled. "And here you are, right back in my arms. I knew Melissa didn’t deserve you; she didn’t know what to do with a man like you."
She pushed him down onto his back on the sand, leaning over him until he could feel her hot breath on his lips. She put her hands on his firm chest and sighed as she felt his heartbeat, strong and racing. "But I do."
As she leaned down to kiss him, all of a sudden, she heard SINGING!
"Smile, you’re on candid camera!" two voices crooned the old-time television theme.
She turned, eyes flashing, to see Lance and JC standing a few feet away, holding the video camera and smiling!!
"Uh, JC, this looks like an awkward situation that we just interrupted. What would you call this?" Lance asked his friend nonchalantly, still rolling the camera.
JC stroked his chin, pretending to think. "Well, Lance, buddy, I think I would call this....BUSTED!!!"
Mandy whirled around and looked at Nick who still lay beneath her.
He smiled. "Busted."
She had been set up!! "Ahhhhhhh! Curse you!" With a scream of rage, she threw her hand across his face!
Suddenly, there was a cry like a mad person and Mandy was tackled to the ground! Nick scrambled to his feet, trying to make out the attacker. The two rolled about on the sand, screaming and fighting. Mandy clawed and kicked at her adversary, but the person pulled back and punched her full in the face, knocking her clean out!!
Then the opponent stood and pushed back her hair. It was Melissa!!
"Mel?! What are you doing here?" Nick asked, hurrying over to where Melissa stood over a knocked-out Mandy.
"I couldn’t let you go through with this alone. I came and hid on the boardwalk. When she hit you, Nick, I.....I just couldn’t hold myself anymore."
"Girl, that was some slug you gave her." JC commented. "She’s out like a light."
"Yeah. Thank God, it’s over now." Nick sighed, pulling Melissa to him. "It’s over now."
Chapter 19
Hailey opened her door to find a wild-eyed AJ standing here.
"AJ, right? What are you....." she didn’t get to finished before AJ started talking.
"I knew I had seen you before! Why it didn’t come to me until now, I don’t know, but I do remember you." he said, pointing a finger in her face.
She was flustered, heat filling her face. "AJ, I...."
"You were with him the last day I saw him. The day I sent him to prison for assault-and-battery! You were with him! You were his girlfriend!" AJ must have looked like a madman as he advanced on Hailey. "You were dating Alec McCartney! Where is he?! I know he’s responsible for what happened to my sister! And if you’re in on it....God help me....!"
"Well, well." Alec’s voice suddenly came from the staircase where he sat, applauding mockingly. "Brilliant, McLean. You figured it out. Took you long enough."
"You!" AJ clenched his fist, muttering a foul name under his breath.
Alec’s own face shadowed. "It’s a shame that we—you and I—have been such bitter enemies. I mean, we almost share the same name."
"I share NOTHING with you! Not my name, not my career, and especially not my sister!" AJ spat.
"Then I guess it’s time we finish this." Alec suggested, standing up.
"Oh, God! Alec, please don’t! I’m begging you..." Hailey pleaded.
"Shut up! You practically led him here with your sweet crush on...!"
"Don’t you bring D. into this! Or I swear..." AJ threatened.
Alec knew that AJ’s love for his friends and family was his weak spot and Alec wanted to push the envelope as far as he could. "You know what, McLean. I had fun beating on your sister! I enjoyed every minute of it!" Alec could see AJ’s face turning purple with rage. "You know what they say: the sins of the father are visited on the son. Or rather, in this case, the sins of the brother are visited on his sweet little sister. Oh, and one more thing, she was good!" It was a bold-faced lie but it accomplished what Alec wanted: it pushed AJ over the edge.
"I’ll kill you!" AJ screamed and lunged at him!
Before Alec could even blink, he and AJ were on the floor, wrestling with each other. Hailey was off to the side, watching and screaming at the two to stop. After getting nowhere and being cursed at by both AJ and Alec, she ran to the phone and dialed a familiar number; the two rustling around on the floor were too busy to notice.
---
As Howie was hearing the story from JC, who was on his phone at the police station where they were dealing with Mandy, D's other line went off, playing a tune that Gia had once recorded and programmed in for him.
"Hang on a sec." he said and JC replied with an "OK."
"Guys, we gotta roll!" Howie suddenly hollered as he grabbed his jacket, running out the door.
"What is it?" asked Justin, running along beside him.
They both jumped into the car after Howie explained the situation and told everyone else where to meet.
The guys told Gia to stay home but, before they could protest, she was strapped in the front seat of Kevin's car.
"I'm going!" she stated sternly.
"Alright. I left a message on Nick's phone, telling him where we'll be."
"Good."
---
By now, AJ had pinned Alec on the floor. Both of them were bruised, and blood was trickling from Alec's mouth. AJ's lip was cut, and they were getting worse.
"You son of a....!" swore AJ, pounding Alec repeatedly.
"STOP IT!!!" screamed Hailey, silently pleading for the others to come.
"Stay out of this!" yelled Alec, "This is between him and me."
A few minutes later, the door burst open and a dozen or so people stormed in!
Justin saw AJ rumbling on the floor and immediately joined him, not even second-guessing that this was the infamous Alec McCartney.
"GUYS! STOP IT THIS INSTANT!" pleaded a voice at the doorway.
"Please," added another voice.
Everyone looked to find Gia standing there, Melissa behind her.
"Alec," hissed Nick.
The fight had stopped, but they were still in the same position. AJ wasn’t ready to end it yet.
"AJ, please…" Gia’s voice was quiet, begging. "There’s been enough of this, hasn’t there?"
The two men looked down in disgust at the figure who lay before them, smirking. Finally, they got up and just stood there.
"Carter, how ya doin’?" asked Alec, still on the ground as he wiped his bloody mouth.
Nick's eyes burned and he went to sock Alec, but Melissa pulled on his arm. Nick looked at her and understood, stepping back.
"I guess you played Manda for a sap, huh?" Alec guessed when he saw Nick hold Mel close.
"The police should be here soon," confirmed Hailey quietly as she returned from the kitchen.
"Traitor!" accused Alec.
"I'm not a traitor, I just found my way." Hailey was amazed at how calm she was and walked over to Howie.
Howie took her in his arms and kissed her, deep and filled with warmth.
"H-H-Howard! I...I...." she started to explain.
"Ssshh," he cooed.
His gentleness caused her guilt to overcome her. Tears began to form in Hailey's eyes and she ran out the door!
Howie looked unsure of what to do at first. "It's OK, D. Go ahead," assured AJ, "She proved good in the end."
Howie nodded and dashed out the door after her.
"As for you," said the officer who had just arrived as he cuffed Alec, "You're gonna be spending a lot of time with me; so I suggest you play nice. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law. You have the right to an..."
"I know, I know," he muttered.
"Been through this before, eh?"
"You could say that." Alec replied, glaring at AJ who put his arm around his little sister protectively.
"I'll be calling you guys tomorrow for a full report. Just part of the procedure."
JC nodded and thanked him.
The cop drove away after thanking the group and promising to make a statement in all the tabloids and newspapers.
Nick sighed. "He's gone. Finally…she's gone. It’s all over!"
Mel took his hands and leaned up to kiss him. Even after all they'd been through, they’d proved true. The others couldn't hold back their cat-calls.
Gia took AJ aside, mouthing a "Thank you" to Justin and everyone else.
Scattering outside into the crisp and cool air, they all headed home.
Chapter 20
"Hailey? Hailey! Where are you?" Howie scoured her spacious backyard. It was dark so it was hard for him to see. Finally he heard sobbing coming from the poolside. There was Hailey, her knees pulled up to her chest, and sobbing.
"Hailey? Are you OK?" he sat beside her. "Baby, what’s wrong?"
"I’m not who you think I am, Howard." she choked out the words.
Howie was confused. "What do you mean?"
"First off, my name isn’t really Hailey. It’s Jean...Jean Harper."
Through floods of tears, she told him of her past with Alec, how he had abused her, and she’d run away from him, changing her name, her identity, her whole life. He’d found her and, too scared of him to resist him, she’d fallen in with him again.
"I didn’t want to help him. I didn’t! But I was so scared of him, so scared of what he’d do to me, what he’d do to....to you."
Howie reached out and touched her damp, feather-soft cheek, his own brown eyes filling with tears at her heart-breaking confession. "Shush now, beautiful. You don’t have to tell me anymore. You’ve made right what was wrong, you helped us catch him."
"But I...but I lied to you, Howard." she said brokenly.
"And you saved me. You saved me and my friends from further heartbreak. Thank you!" He cupped her face in his hands. "I’ve loved you forever, you know that? And as far as I’m concerned, Jean Harper—that woman that you were years ago—doesn’t exist any more. You are Hailey Crowe, now and forever. My beautiful Hailey Crowe."
With that declaration, he leaned forward and brushed his lips gently against hers. Hailey circled her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. When they pulled apart, she clung to him.
"Oh, Howard! I’m so sorry!" she apologized again.
"Shhh! There’s nothing to be sorry about. I love you, Hailey."
She pulled away from him and smiled too; it was a smile full of life from a captive heart that was liberated by love. "I love you, too."
---
"Ouch!" AJ winced as Gia carefully cleaned his cuts.
"Hold still, you baby!" she ordered. "Your lip’s not split that badly; it won’t need stitches." she concluded, stepping away from him to the sink. She was silent for the longest while.
Suddenly, she dropped the bowl of water and began to cry. AJ leapt up out of his seat and took her in his arms.
She held on to him for all she was worth. "Is it really over?"
AJ stroked her hair gently. "Not yet. But it will be soon. I promise you!"
---
Within a month, Alec was convicted of kidnapping, assault and battery, and aggravated assault and sentenced to 25 years in prison. This was his third serious offense, therefore there was no chance of parole for him. Mandy and Mrs. Willaford were also found guilty of harassment, violation of restraining order, and accessory to kidnapping and were sentenced to 15 years maximum each.
When it was all over, the group gathered together at AJ’s house to celebrate their freedom.
AJ raised his glass of champagne. "To the end of a nightmare," he proposed the toast. Then he slipped his arm around Gia. "And to a new beginning!"
"Here, here!" Everyone drank to that.
"Now, in case ya’ll have forgotten, we have a Grammy’s to get ready for!" Jane said, jumping up. And she was right; the Grammy’s were in a couple of months!
Kevin smiled. "Shall I call Donatella?" he asked the girls.
"Hmmmm, Versace. Sounds like just the thing, Kev." Tasha agreed.
"And you boys will be in Armani and Gucci, right?" Becky asked Justin.
"Of course!" he replied with a smile.
Melissa and Nick just stood by in each other’s arms, happy that the nightmare was finally over. Now they could prepare for the big night in peace.
In the blink of an eye, it was here! The night of the 2001 Grammy Awards! This was going to be interesting.